Pop Quiz: Accessing a Network Web Portal with Windows 7

Q: A company's Web development department owns a group of Windows 7 PCs that need access to an internal network Web portal. The PCs must be able to access the site address http://intranet.company.com without changes to the network, or affecting other department PCs. Which of the following methods can be used to access the Web portal?

Use the IP address.

Create a firewall rule allowing access for Web development PCs.

Create a firewall rule blocking access for non-Web development PCs.

Add the address to the hosts file.

Answer and explanation is below.

Answer is D: Adding the IP address and site address to each of the group of Windows 7 PC's hosts file is the correct answer. Using the IP address may not work with all network configurations and portal server products.

Quick Tip: You cannot modify the Hosts file in Windows 7. Start, Notepad, Run as administrator, open the hosts file %systemroot%\system32\drivers\etc.

Bonus Question: Windows Server 2008 R2 will only be supported using which processor until 2018? (Tweet your answer with #pop685b and get a chance to win a rare MCPmag.com baseball cap! Deadline for entries is Monday, August 13.)

Answer to bonus question from last time: The Software Development Kit (SDK) is a free downloaded Microsoft.com and can be used to create a troubleshooting pack for an application running on Windows 7.

About the Author

Andy Barkl, MCT/MCITP/MCSA, A+, Network+, Security+, CCNA has been studying technology for 30 years. Of the last 15 years, he has spent much of his time parting the knowledge and experience he has gained through IT exams, over 300, to help others be prepared and successful. He teaches classes in Phoenix, Ariz. where he has lived most of his life. He can be reached by e-mail at andy.barkl@gmail.com.